Thousands march to protest anti-union legislation

Union members from Indiana and Illinois rally in the southwest parking lot of the Assembly Hall in Champaign on Thursday April 19, 2012 to protest Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels' speech to the Champaign County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner.

CHAMPAIGN -- As many as 5,000 labor union members and supporters crowded into a corner parking lot at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall Thursday to hear union leaders excoriate Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and warn about anti-union legislation in Illinois.

Daniels was scheduled to speak to a Champaign County Republican Party dinner in Champaign Thursday night.

Many of the union members, dressed in bright T-shirts and holding signs condemning Daniels, took large buses to the rally. Thirty buses were lined up in a separate Assembly Hall parking lot.

After a series of speeches by Illinois and Indiana union leaders, the large crowd marched peacefully to a hotel two blocks away where Daniels was to speak. Police set up barricades around the hotel, but permitted people to come and go from the parking lot. The protesters had been told, however, to stay off the hotel property.

Michael Carrigan, president of the Illinois AFL-CIO, noted that two days ago Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker had been given a similar greeting by an estimated 3,500 union members in Springfield.

"Doug Whitley of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce invited Scott Walker and his agenda to Springfield. Shame on you, Doug Whitley, for endorsing Governor Walker and his anti-union agenda," Carrigan said. "So the message from the one million women and men of organized labor in Illinois to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is the same message that we delivered to Wisconsin's Governor Scott Walker on Tuesday: we don't want and we don't need your extreme anti-worker, anti-middle class agenda here in Illinois."

Joe Breedlove, secretary-treasurer of the Indiana AFL-CIO, said that "no matter what Mitch Daniels says here tonight, it's nothing more than spin from a political master. Hoosiers did not vote for the agenda he rammed through and Hoosiers are now living with it even though they do not like it."

Breedlove asserted that "our membership is angry," particulary about Daniels' decision to sign a right-to-work bill.

"In fact, of the 125 legislative seats up for election this year, 55 members of organized labor have decided to jump in and run for those seats. It will take some time but we will fix this," he said.

Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, insisted that research shows that right-to-work laws "do not help the economy. They do not grow the ecopnomy. They do not bring business to states. What they do do is they lower the average wage and they hurt working families."

Pat Devaney, a Champaign firefighter who is president of the Associated Firefighters of Illinois, told the crowd that there are lawmakers in Illinois "who want to take away the fruits of your hard labor. They want to take away collective bargaining, they want to take away your health care and they want to strip away your pensions. Are we going to allow them to do that? So how in the hell are they doing this?

"They're doing this because you have people like Mitch Daniels going around, blaming the financial woes of our country and our state not on Wall Street and the corporate greed that got us into this mess in the first place. Do you know who they're blaming? They're blaming you, the hard-working middle class."

Devaney said "we need to tell our elected oficials in Illinois that they need to keep the promise of a fair days pay for a fair days work. They need to keep the promise of affordable health care for our families. And they need to keep the promise of retirement security so we can live in dignity beyond our working years."

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Thank goodness that we live in a democracy that allows collective bargaining. Unions built the middle class. Now; they are under attack by the corporations, and their paid talking heads. Sadly, many right wing citizens buy into the propaganda spewed by the paid talking heads. Now, let the union haters whine forward. Me, I am sticking with the union.

So I dont deserve my benefits as a govt employee? What if I told you my paycheck doesnt come from tax dollars but yet I am still a federal employee? I deserve each and every benefit I have, yes I enjoy the decent pay and fantastic benefits which are not from tax dollars (did I mention I am a fed?) You are free to go to usajobs.gov and apply for a job if your pay is so miserable! I am happy to have a job period!

Dont lump all govt employees together- I see first hand everyday the work and sacrifice my coworkers deal with, they work damn hard! Not all govt employees are running for or in office. And last I checked my orginization doesnt have me pay to be represented!

So let me get this straight, right now the State of Illinios has more debts that it is taking in. It's because the rank and file are getting paid too much? Because they are our employees, they joined unions fror a reason. WE were not treating our employees well. That is why they unionized. Our emloyees are not what is bankrupting our state. We have people in office who have forgotten they work for us and are not there to line their pockets or their friends. They are what is bankrupting our state and our country. They have the distract-the-people act down pretty well.

I'm talking about places that went union after the people were already hired. That means they voted to go union. Because of working conditions, pay, etc. So now the union is in place. If there is a strike, and people cross the picket line, so called "scabs", how are their pay and benefits different than the people they replaced? Aside from not having any benefits. Ever notice how many places hire for 35 hour work weeks? Or 30? So you won't be considered full time? Your meal break, being able to use the restroom, having safe exits, safe wooking conditions, etc. They all came from unions. You're complaining about having to join to get the job? Think about all the people in this country who complain that China is violating the civil rights of their people for not having unions in their factories. If it's a civil right for them then it's a civil right for us.

I am sick and tired of hearing anti-union rhetoric. Unions built this country into a safe, efficient, economic powerhouse and created the middle class. Politicians and CEO's blame the workers for their own mistakes and mismanagement. What, do you think they would blame themselves? Ha.

You are right this country was built on unions that produced and could be negotiated with if they did not.But it was not built on government sector unions who take their members money to support political views they do not agree with.Political correctness makes it almost impossible in the government sector to deal with someone who is not doing their job.It is so sad but true.

Having lived in Illinois for most of my life and moved to Tennessee in the early 1990's, I found that there are better, cleaner, more economical, safer, places to live than Illinois. With the dirty politics supported by unions, politicans going to prison, business agents who game the system, increased taxes to support public employees pension funds and businesses leaving the state, why would anyone want to live in Illinois. Tennessee has no state income tax, is a right to work state with new businesses moving in every day, a state with christian values, property taxes that have not been increased in over five years, and an environment that fosters growth. Compare this to Illinois. Illinois' need to raise taxes is not due to corporate greed or Wall Street, it is directly related to poor management, overreaching unions and crooked politicans.

Right-to-work means even though it's a union job if you're working on and the union got the wages and benefits package for you, you didn't have to contribute to the union or join them. So if you got "all" of the benefits of being in one why join in and actually pay dues and support the other people in the union? If nobody pays dues, the union can't exist. See how that works? And if you don't really understand what's going on you may think what's wrong with some people not paying their share of dues. "It's about freedom. They should be free not to join the union. The union might say something they don't like." Think of the union like a family. You don't like everything about your family either. Do you want to get rid of families?

Last year we were forced to watch helplessly as a few silly democrats from Indiana scurried over the state line to hole up in Urbana, doing their best reenactment of the "run away" scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

This year a gaggle of IN union workers were honking on Neil Street in funny and colorful shirts to protest a "war" that is being waged against them.

Is it too much to ask that the fine people of of Indiana keep their problems in Hoosier country? We've enough political issues in Illinois without having to watch Indianians hash out their problems in Champaign county. Go home and protest your governor on your own turf. Our governor has no time to wage a union war. He's too busy raising our income tax so he can give the extra money to Sears, so they can have enough money to close stores. It's complicated.

Ditto Wisconsin's. Seems to be a pattern here. Labor unions have warped into something that doesn't exist to protect the worker, they exist only to protect the union. I say let people vote on unions with their feet, and their dues. If you want to join a union, so be it. Those of us who don't should not be saddle with unions. After all, before this country was allegedly built by labor unions it was founded on the principles of freedom and individualism. Let those of us who want to remain independent individuals retain that right.

That has absolutely nothing to do with why their economy is doing better. That is what our politicians and corporate leaders want you to think though. The truth is that all Union workers paid into their retirement and the state spent our retirement money with the promise of paying it back and now can't because they budgeted wrong! Does that sound fair? They are crooks and thieves and you are sheep if you follow their BS!

I remember several years back when the decision was made to raid the State pension system. I thought it was a bad idea then, and even more so now. It's the politicians who are at fault as to why we don't now have enough funds to pay the retirees.

For the others who disagree, blaming it on Unions is ludicrous. So is thinking the private sector will treat you kindly and take care of your needs. If you look back in history, people DIED trying to keep their jobs, while working 12-hour days six days/week. There were NO safety regulations. Pay was poor, and you had absolutely no rights at all. Why do people think labor unions exist, anyway? It was to ensure the labor force was dealt with fairly.

It's right-wing propaganda that tries to convince us otherwise. They'd love to go back to 'the way things were.' It's in their economic interest, not ours. I just read today that GE is seeing record profits, yet they still pay no income taxes. In fact, they receive 'corporate welfare' incentives to the tune of BILLION$. So who's getting the fair shake, us?

(Hopefully, soon-to-be-history) Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) is getting recalled for his war against labor. He promised jobs, but WI added negligible amounts of jobs (Google this-- or use any search engine you choose-- and you'll see that it is true.) In the meantime, he gave immense tax breaks to his crony corporate backers while services were sliced to the bone-- education, public works, etc.

I would tell everyone, don't fall for the Republican/teabagger agenda. They merely tell you what you want to hear, rather than their true agenda-- make the rich richer, and the poor poorer. There will be no middle class with them in charge.

Please could you tell us all when, exactly, the decision was made to "raid the pension system?"

I've written this before, but it doesn't seem to get though to state union types. The bottom line with regard to the unfunded liabilities in the pension system, is that it absolutely is the fault of the membership. The reason is because they keep allowing their union dues go to electing the same democrats who do not fund the system properly.

Follow this process. Unions collect money from members. Unions give the money to democrats. Democrats have held the checkbook for the state for the past 38 years (except for two years where republicans controlled the house & the governors mansion and enacted legislation that required the payments be made, which was summarily ignored by the dems.) Democrats don't make the payments to the system. The system is underfunded. Democrats somehow dupe the union members into believing it's the fault of republicans, even though they are the majority party. Unions collect money from members. Unions give the money to the same democrats. And so on and so on and so on and so on.

Hate to disagree with you; but Thompson, and other Republicans received union campaign donations also. There have even been times that neither party candidate received union money. Sounds great that unions always support Democrats; but that is not accurate. It is just more anti union misinformation.

Sid, it's not ant-union, it's just the plain and simple truth. What is shown below is not anti-union - it's just the facts.

ActBlue - (not union, but largest contributor to dems) 99% of $61 million to demsAFSCME - 92% of $47 million to democratsService Employees International Union - 74% of $38 million to democratsNatl Education Association - 80% of $37 million to democratsIBEW - 92% of $37 million to democratsAmerican Federation of Teachers - 89% of $32 million to democratsTeamsters - 87% of $32 million to democratsLaborers - 88% of $32 million to democratsCarpenters - 86% of $30 million to democratsCommunication Workers of America - 92% of $30 million to democratsUnited Food & Commercial Workers Union - 92% of $27 million to democratsUnited Auto Workers - 98% of $27 million to democratsMachinists and Aerospace Union - $98% of $27 million to democratsNational ASSN of Letter Carriers - 86% of $22 million to democratsAFL-CIO - 82% of $21 million to democrats

So, speaking as a former state government employee (the UofI) who was "clearly overpaid"... I left for the private sector, still in C/U, and got a pay bump of +50%. My vacation dropped slightly (by ~5 days, but I'll be even-up after a few years here, then ahead if I stay longer). My sick time is about the same, though accounted for very differently. I'm putting more into my retirement both percent wise and absolute than I was at the U, and my company matches less than the U did, so that isn't as good. The flip side is its a 401k so its my money, not a pot the state raids for funds when it feels like. I also have a possibility of actual raises and bonuses, instead of years of 0% raises or flat across the board non-merit token 1-2% raises.

If you think the line staff at the big local state-government location is overpaid you're seriously deluding yourself. Sure, the big-2 coaches are overpaid for their productivity. But when you start talking the vast majority of the staff (who are making <<100k a year), I don't think your argument holds water anymore.

Significantly more people in Illinois are in Labor Unions than in Indiana.

Indiana's median income = $34,943

Illinois's median income= $43,159

Unemployment rates in both states are roughly the same.

If you hurt unions, you hurt the Middle Class. That's why thousands showed up to say no to the Governor of Indiana. Indiana had already taken away collective bargaining for public employees to hurt unions and now they've passed "Right to Work for Less". I expect the median income in Indiana to keep going down.

If you are paid by the government then your pay does in fact come from the wealth owned by the public. It really makes no matter to me whether it is derived directly from taxes or not.

Also, just because some govt institutions like the U of I are not wholly funded by tax monies each year does not make them any less the property of the state, and therefore fully accountable to the people.

Union haters will never change their minds. They pay taxes just like union members. They send their kids to the same schools that the union members kids attend. They buy at the same stores. They pay the same property taxes. The only difference is that they want to deny union members a middle class life while they benefit from low wage labor. They are the traitors to the American Dream. They are the bitter, misinformed puppets of the far right. Since they will not change their minds, union members need to speak their minds. Call them out. Identify them as the scabs they are. Where are their large demonstrations advocating their cause? Oh maybe, a dozen will gather in a park to hear a talking head; but that is far as it goes.

Unions are great to a point. Like everything they must observe moderation. There definitely is such a thing as public sector union power abuses relative to the monies available. The problem with public union management is a profound disregard for pragmatics.

asparagus; I have agreed with you on previous issues; but this time, I do not. Please investigate the facts regarding the reasons why public employees unionized, how they have been cheated on contracts, and what the front line employees really are paid. Without public employee unions; nepotism, political party membership required, safety and health in the workplace, and decent middle class wages would not have occurred. I understand your view of taxpayers burden; but I pay the same taxes also. The real culprits are the past, and present governors, and legislators who spent your, and my tax dollars on pork barrel projects that lined their pockets with political donations from the vendors. Get rid of the corruption in Springfield; and unions become less necessary. I salute the trade locals, and public employee locals who turned out together to protest a talking head spewing anti labor propaganda.

I completely agree with your comments. Those of us who work in public service have had to endure, in the Rush Limbaugh republican era, an amazing amount of abuse.Much of it is insulting and derisive.We are a target,a piece of an incredibly well funded political initiative.Facts don't matter to political performers like Walker and Daniels.They are paid to protect the most powerful and wealthiest segment of our society.The damage that they do to workers,public or private is irrelevant to them as long as they manipulate a dishonest message and convince as many people as possible to be frightened enough to vote against their own best interests.Everyone who works has difficulties,hardships and tough days on the job.I understand and appreciate that fact.But it is hard to constantly hear one is a lazy and unmotivated public worker stealing a fat pension on a day when you have been punched and kicked breaking up a violent fight in a public place.It is tiresome to be referred to as a government worker ''sponge'' in a News Gazette editorial the day after you are holding an out of control young man who has a gun in his hand pointed at your partner. Could we not have the discusion and search for a solution without all of the abuse that is directed toward those of us in the public sector? Are firefighters,police officers,teachers, and other public service workers really the problem? Corporate welfare,decades of war,the Wall Street Casino....those things have nothing to do with our problems? Did we really need to bring Mitch Daniels,a person who constantly insults and lies about the state of Illinois into our community to be treated like a hero? Take a very close look at public health,safety and the increasing debt burden on individual communities in Indiana before you buy all of the foolishness coming out of Daniels.I believe Sid has said it well...look very carefully at the ''miracle in Indiana''.

You write "Sid, I completely agree with your comments. Those of us who work in public service have had to endure, in the Rush Limbaugh republican era, an amazing amount of abuse.Much of it is insulting and derisive."

Then I see what "Sid" wrote: "[People who don't want to join a union] are he traitors to the American Dream. They are the bitter, misinformed puppets of the far right. Since they will not change their minds, union members need to speak their minds. Call them out. Identify them as the scabs they are."

So that's not insulting and derisive? What I see is somebody so blinded by union demagoguery that he's filled with hate. People like that will always be part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Your correct, FedX is hiring as well as a lot of employers who are moving into the state from states like Illinois and taking your jobs away. Why, because your politicans cannot seem to live with their means and must look to "redistribute" wealth to those that lack the motivation to care for themselves or those that let unions think for them. Your also correct, I will stay in Tennessee and enjoy a life style only you can dream of. You see, I started and sold business and created jobs and helped others become successful.

You sound like a prince. Enjoy Tennesse; and help your neighbors there. However, this is Illinois. We will deal with our own problems. No need to have out of state governors pandering for money, and popularity in Illinois when they are heckled back home. Get the picture? Don't let the door......... We have enough union haters in our own state.

Your idea of taking care of your problems in Illinois is raising taxes on individuals and corporations instead of cutting out of control spending. Unions have contributed to the growth, but they have gotten out of hand or should we say they have their hand in other peolpes pockets.

You already stated how much you love Tennesse. I am sure that there are burning issues there. We just had two governors from out of state here in Illinois pandering; and bashing unions. We don't need Tennesse braggers sticking their nose in our business also. You love Tennesse; fine. Stay in Tennesse, and help your fellow citizens there. What happens in Illinois is really none of your business. Goodbye, and good luck; slick.

Slick,please check the facts.Over an 11 year period the state of Tennessee ranks as the most corrupt state in the union according to statistics from the FBI and the Department of Justice.The Newsweek corporation has an easier to read version that is easily available in many places. Please go to your library,paid for with tax dollars,and do the research. Here are a few highlights.There have been 18 Federal convictions of Tennessee public officials for corruption.There have been 12 Racketeering and corruption convictions of Tennessee public elected officials.Tennessee ranks in the top 5 in convictions for Fraud among elected officials.Public officials involved in counterfeiting and forgery include enough to lead the nation.The 9 convictions of public officials for embezzelment also makes Tennessee the national leader. And Slick...I dare you to look at the rank of Tennessee in civil rights violations against minority Americans. It should make you tone down your boasts and your insults. Go to the website of the Department of Labor and read about the horrible record of job related deaths and accidents because worker safety is such a low priority in Tennesee. All of our communities,in every state have problems that must be addressed so that we can all enjoy a better quality of life.Tell me how your bragging and your insults add any positive element to any discussion?

It is not a Democrat, or Republican issue. Both parties are unwilling to "clamp down" on it. They ignore it for votes, and cheap labor. Both Democrat, and Republican politicians are nothing more than paid thieves stealing from America. Wake up; it is not just one party destroying America. It is both parties. George W. did nothing about it. Obama is doing nothing about it. Romney doesn't plan to do anything about it. Lobby money doesn't want it changed. Therefore, there will be talk about it; but nothing will change it until America is as broke as the states.

And George the Second was there for 8 years. Don't you get it? Neither party wants to change it. It is votes, and cheap labor. Remember "they do work that Americans refuse to do"? Illegal immigration is bankrupting America. The cost for medical care, education, and welfare are huge. The workmanship is shoddy. It is not one party, or the other refusing to do anything about it. It is both parties. Let go of the one party against the other party frame of mind. Raise cane against both parties. The legislators, governors, and Congress that get lobby payoffs to allow illegal immigration to continue are of both parties. I would love to see a national Labor Party made up of union, and non-union citizens helping to create a better country. I don't care what you name parties; but we need more than the corrupt two parties that exist now.